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ECI Seizes Rs 865 Crore in Tamil Nadu, Bengal Ahead of Assembly Polls

The Election Commission of India has reported seizures of illicit items worth over Rs 865 crore in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal ahead of Assembly elections. It has deployed thousands of Flying Squads and Static Surveillance Teams to enforce the Model Code of Conduct. The Commission utilizes a digital Seizure Management System to track these enforcement actions. Citizens are encouraged to report violations via the cVIGIL mobile application.

Key Points: Rs 865 Crore Seized in Tamil Nadu, Bengal Ahead of Polls

  • Rs 865 crore seized in two states
  • Over 7,000 surveillance teams deployed
  • West Bengal seizures at Rs 427 crore
  • Tamil Nadu seizures at Rs 438 crore
2 min read

ECI seizures cross Rs 865 crore in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal ahead of Assembly polls

Election Commission reports seizures worth Rs 865 crore in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Over 7,000 surveillance teams deployed to ensure inducement-free elections.

"enforcement agencies have seized illicit cash, liquor, drugs and freebies worth over Rs 865 crore - Election Commission of India"

New Delhi, April 17

The Election Commission of India on Friday said that enforcement agencies have seized illicit cash, liquor, drugs and freebies worth over Rs 865 crore in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

According to an official notification, the Commission has intensified surveillance and enforcement measures to ensure free, fair and inducement-free polls in both states.

The ECI said it has conducted multiple review meetings with Chief Secretaries, Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs), Directors General of Police (DGPs) and senior officials of poll-bound states, along with enforcement agencies, to ensure strict compliance with the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

To strengthen ground-level monitoring, the Commission has deployed 5,011 Flying Squads and 2,283 Static Surveillance Teams across Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. These teams are tasked with responding to complaints within 100 minutes and conducting surprise checks at various locations.

Additionally, 5,363 Flying Squads have been deployed in West Bengal and 2,221 in Tamil Nadu to curb illegal inducements. The Election Seizure Management System (ESMS), activated on February 26, has been instrumental in tracking and reporting these seizures.

As per the data shared by the Commission, West Bengal reported seizures worth Rs 427 crore, including cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals and freebies. Tamil Nadu recorded seizures amounting to Rs 438 crore, taking the combined total to Rs 865 crore.

The Commission also emphasised that enforcement actions should not inconvenience ordinary citizens. District Grievance Committees have been set up to address complaints related to checking and enforcement.

Further, citizens and political parties have been encouraged to report violations of the Model Code of Conduct through the cVIGIL App available on ECINET, which is an easy-to-use mobile application that serves as a centralised digital platform for citizens and officials of the ECI.

The ECI reiterated its commitment to ensuring peaceful, intimidation-free and inducement-free elections in all poll-bound states in the country.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good step by ECI! But honestly, this is just the tip of the iceberg. In my area, we still hear about liquor being distributed at night. The Flying Squads need to be more unpredictable in their checks. Hope the cVIGIL app works effectively on the ground. 🤞
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Aman W
While I appreciate the crackdown, I have a respectful criticism. Sometimes these checks harass common people. My uncle's wedding gift cash was held up for hours last election. The District Grievance Committees must be truly accessible and quick to resolve such genuine issues.
S
Sarah B
The sheer scale of this is mind-boggling. Over 5,000 surveillance teams? It reads like a military operation. It's sad that ensuring a basic free and fair election requires such massive deployment of resources. Where is all this illicit cash coming from?
K
Karthik V
Tamil Nadu and Bengal numbers are almost equal! Shows the problem is pan-India, not specific to any one state or party. The ESMS system seems to be working. Hope the seized money goes to the public treasury and not just disappears. Jai Hind!
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Nisha Z
As a voter, I feel more confident reading this. It's a strong message that buying votes won't be easy. I've downloaded the cVIGIL app. Let's see if it's as user-friendly as they claim. Every citizen should do their bit to report malpractice.

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